A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Buzios vs. Cuenca for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

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Should you visit Buzios or Cuenca?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Buzios or Cuenca? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Buzios or Cuenca?

Buzios

Initially a fishing village, Armação dos Buzios is a small beach resort town about three hours from Rio de Janeiro by bus. Buzios is a common weekend getaway destination for Cariocas. With 23 beaches, visitors from all over come to swim, snorkel, surf and enjoy sun and sand.

Cuenca

Cuenca is a vibrant colonial city in southern Ecuador, the third largest in the country, and the capital of Azuay Province. Cuenca is considered as Ecuador's most important and beautiful colonial city after Quito. Dating from the 16th century, Cuenca's historic center, a Unesco World Heritage Site with its trademark skyline of massive rotundas and soaring steeples, is a magical sight in which you will feel like you are moving back in time. Cuenca is the center of many craft traditions, including ceramics, metalwork and the internationally famous panama hat. The nearby villages also offer many other handicrafts. Tourists enjoy wandering the ancient streets discovering picturesque alleys and hidden corners, where nuns march along cobblestone streets and kids in Catholic-school uniforms skip past historic churches. Fascinating historic monuments and fabulous views are found at every turn. Cuenca also has outstanding art museums and festivals. For a rewarding cultural experience, visit during Easter to attend the Festival of Religious Music.

Which place is cheaper, Cuenca or Buzios?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Buzios is $80, while the average daily cost in Cuenca is $42. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Buzios and Cuenca in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Buzios $39
    Cuenca $13
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Buzios $78
    Cuenca $26
Compare Hotels in Buzios and Cuenca

Looking for a hotel in Buzios or Cuenca? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Buzios


Hotels in Cuenca


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Cuenca Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Buzios $20
    Cuenca $11

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Buzios

Also for Buzios, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Arraial do Cabo Shared Transfer to Rio de Janeiro: $52
  • Beach Resorts to Cabo Frio Airport (CFB) - Departure Transfer : $29
  • Beach Resorts to Cabo Frio Airport (CFB) - Private Transfer: $25
  • Departure Private Transfer Arraial do Cabo to GIG or SDU Airport by Minivan: $481
  • Departure Private Transfer Arraial do Cabo to GIG or SDU Airport by Sedan Car: $242
  • Departure Private Transfer from Buzios or Cabo Frio to Rio Airports by Minivan: $428
  • Departure Private Transfer from Buzios or Cabo Frio to Rio Airports by Sedan Car: $223
  • Executive private transfer from GIG Rio Galeao airport up to 3 pax to Buzios: $103
  • Executive private transfer from GIG Rio Galeao airport up to 4 pax to Buzios: $113
  • Private Transfer Buzios to Rio de Janeiro: $79
  • Private Transfer from Buzios Cruise Port to Cabo Frio city hotels: $37
  • Private Transfer from Buzios Cruise Port to Rio de Janeiro hotels: $29

Typical Local Transportation prices in Cuenca

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Cuenca:


  • Taxi Ride
    $2.00

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cuenca

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cuenca:

  • Private Transfer from Cuenca to Guayaquil.: $104
  • Departure Private Transfer: Cuenca City to Cuenca Airport CUE by Minivan: $74
  • Arrival Private Transfer: Cuenca Airport CUE to Cuenca City by Minivan: $74
  • Shared transfer from Cuenca Airport to Hotel: $45
  • Shared transfer from Hotel to Airport in Cuenca: $45
  • Cuenca Arrival Transfer: $34
  • Cuenca Departure Transfer: $34
  • Cuenca to Guayaquil Transfer in Fantasy Bus: $25

Is it cheaper to fly into Buzios or Cuenca?

Prices for flights to both Cuenca and Buzios change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Buzios $25
    Cuenca $15

Typical Food prices in Cuenca

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Cuenca:


  • Lunch
    $10
  • Snacks
    $5.00
  • Empanada
    $1.50
  • Hot Dog
    $1.00

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cuenca

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cuenca.

  • Street food Tour in Cuenca,Ecuador: $33
  • Cooking Class & Market Tour in Cuenca: $55
  • Cuenca City Tour & Cooking Class (PRIVATE Tour from Cuenca): $112
  • Private Cooking Class: $125

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Buzios $28
    Cuenca $16

Tours and Activities in Buzios

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Buzios.

  • Tour of the most beautiful beaches and islands of Buzios by Buziana Tour: $13
  • Boat Tour in Arraial do Cabo: $15
  • Buggy Ride in Buzios by Buziana Tour: $15
  • Schooner Cruise in Búzios: $15
  • Catamaran Boat Tour in Búzios: $16
  • Super Flor Boat Tour - Arraial do Cabo - Brazilian Caribbean: $20
  • Half-Day Schooner Sightseeing Trip in Buzios Peninsula Beaches: $20
  • Land and nautical city tour. unforgettable Búzios: $20
  • Tour of Bugre in Arraial (Buggy): $21
  • 3-hour Small Group Buzios Peninsula Open Air Trolley Tour: $25
  •  Trolley Tour Through the City Buzios: $28
  • Tour in Boat Tour in Buzios: $30

Tours and Activities in Cuenca

Here are a few actual costs in Cuenca for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Cuenca-Ec- City Tour with Panama Hat factory Half Day: $30
  • Inca Trail Cajas National Park tour from Cuenca: $110
  • 4 or 5-Day Tour Cuenca,Alausi,Baños,Quilotoa,Cotopaxi and Quito: $670
  • Amazing Cajas National Park Tour from Cuenca: $49
  • Archaeological Tour: Pumapungo - Cojitambo - Ingapirca: $60
  • Azuay: San Bartolomé, Gualaceo, and Chordeleg Artisanal Tour: $63
  • Baños & Amazon 4-day tour from Cuenca or Quito: $799
  • Biking Cuenca City Tour: $45
  • Birdwatching Tour Cajas Park and Tamarindo Tropical Forest area from Cuenca: $130
  • Birdwatching Tour in Cajas National Park from Cuenca: $100
  • Birdwatching Tour in Cajas National Park from Cuenca: $100
  • Birdwatching Tour in Giron and Yunguilla Jocotoco Reserve from Cuenca: $150

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Buzios $18
    Cuenca $14

How are these travel costs calculated?

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Buzios and Cuenca, we can see that Buzios is more expensive. And not only is Cuenca much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Cuenca would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cuenca and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Buzios would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Buzios than you might in Cuenca.

Which is Bigger, Buzios or Cuenca?

Cuenca is bigger, and its population is about 11.8 times larger than the population of Buzios. When comparing the population of Buzios vs. Cuenca, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit and the activities that interest you.

Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.
About BudgetYourTrip.com
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Buzios vs. Cuenca Travel Comparison

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